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It’s a question that tends to get raised at all the wrong times, and not something that really gets thought about all that often, normally not until there is a problem. But when it comes to something as important as instructing within education and training of any person, whether it be school students or mature adult students, the ideal is where any student is taught by a ‘good teacher.’ But what exactly makes a good teacher?

Right or wrong this is a question that has many subjective answers. And this is a good thing. If the quality of an instructor was purely measured in hard objective indicators then there would be a convergence of instructional skills and techniques and the art (and skill) of teaching would take on a very linear, predictable pattern.

Before we look at the initial answer, if you’ve never been put into a position of leadership the answer will most likely be no! Just like delivering training, the first time—no one is ready, no one is prepared. You may have been ‘tapped’ but the chances are you probably just stepped in to get something done or thought you could do it better.

At the very least that’s a start. But don’t worry, no one is truly qualified to lead. That’s okay, neither are most business owners. What’s worse is that nowadays there seems to be this misconception that leadership is management and vice versa.

Are You still up to date?

The question can also be—Are you still qualified to do your job? Harsh question right? After all who am I to ask you out there whether you’re qualified to do the work you do? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to offend, but I found myself pondering the legitimacy of the question. Continue reading →

Quantity or Quality? Speed or Accuracy? Performance or Reliability? Questions where the answer can be situation dependent but one thing that can be considered each time is ‘What are you willing to accept?’

What standards are you going to apply before you give yourself an answer? Because whatever you’re faced with, the question truly becomes—What is right?

Because after all a standard is by definition ‘the minimum level of what can be accepted.’

Despite what you may think—it has nothing to do with that. This isn’t about dealing with the ‘wrong person’ or anything like that.

No, the hardest thing that you can do as a leader is to put yourself first. That’s right. Above all else, putting yourself first.Not the company, not the mission—but strategically yourself first! And that can mean time out! Continue reading →